Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

Theodora Tenpenny lives in a rundown home in Greenwich Village with her grandfather, Jack, and her socially non-functional mother.  When her grandfather dies suddenly, Theo finds herself struggling to keep food on the table for her and her mother and wonders what will happen once her grandfather's retirement checks stop coming in.  One day she spills rubbing alchol on one of her grandfather's paintings and finds that it was painted on top of a much older work.  It looks like it might be valuable, so she and a new friend start researching to find out what the painting is and how her grandfather might have aquired it. As Theo digs deeper into her grandfather's past, she learns amazing things about art, her grandfather, and herself. 

This is a great mystery for middle grade readers.  It reminded me a lot of Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett, but I actually liked this one better.  Theo's situation at home is more compelling than in the Balliett book. Her relationship with Bodhi is fun because of the rich/poor contrast. Fitzgerald does a good job of juggling the three stories; the painter Raphael's, her grandfather's in WWII, and the present time. The ending is a little too "coincidental" but I don't think kids will be bothered by that. (2014, 256 p)

A Treasure Concealed by Tracie Peterson

Emily lives with her prospector father in Montana in the 1890's.  Her mother is ill, and they don't have much money, but Emily's father is sure that any day he will strike it rich.  Emily has grown up in mining towns and has learned to wear clothes that conceal her feminine figure in order to discourage unwanted attention.  One day her father brings home a stranger, Caeden, who happens to see what Emily really looks like.  Caeden came from a disfunctional home and has vowed never to marry, but as he gets to know Emily, his resolve starts to waiver. Meanwhile, another stranger is trying to buy up all of the local mining claims, and when Emily's father refuses to sell, he threatens to do whatever it takes to get the claim.  Can Caeden protect Emily and her father, while still protecting his heart?

I started to read a different book, but in the first chapter I could tell it had elements that didn't meet my standards, so I just searched for available historical Christian romances and clicked on the first one in the list. I must say that this book proves that not all Christian historical romances are created equal.  This read like an old Vaudville melodrama with all the stock characters you would expect.  The dialog is terribly stilted and so cliche I couldn't help rolling my eyes.  It is also really preachy and the pacing is slow. I wonder how books like this get published, let alone made into  audiobooks.  It really was very silly.  So why did I finish it?  Why not?  At least it was clean, and it was so bad it was almost funny.  Will I be reading more in the series?  No. (2016, 328 p)

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

 Princess Ani never had the way with people that her powerful mother has.  Still, as the crown princess, she tries hard to prepare to rule her country when she becomes of age. When the time comes, however, her brother is chosen to rule instead, and she is sent away to marry the prince of a neighboring kingdom.  On the way to her arranged marriage, she is betrayed by a friend who kills her guards and takes on her identity.  Alone, Ani must go into hiding and eventually takes a job as the royal goose girl.  As Ani gets to know the other palace workers she starts to have friends for the first time in her life, and to learn things about herself that give her strength and confidence she never had before. Her betrayer is leading the two kindoms toward war, and Ani must decide if her new life has taught her enough to challenge her usurper and save two kingdoms. 

This is another book that I read years ago and that I am reading again now because it is a parent/child book club title.  It was fun to read again.  Shannon Hale really is a good writer.  Her characters are good and her discriptions are lovely.  The magic system in the book is a little amorphus, but, if I remember right, Ms Hale tightens it up a bit in subsequent books in the series.  The whole horse head thing is a bit odd, and I hope it isn't too much for my book club families.  Still, the book has some good discussion potential and I am looking forward to it in January. (400 p. 2003)

Christmas By Accident by Cameron Wright

 Carter works as a claims adjuster, but longs to be a writer.  Abby owns a small bookstore and cares for her Uncle Mannie who has rased her from childhood. Abby loves Christmas and Carter believes it is all a big commercial scam. One day a car accident brings Carter and Abby together. As Carter's interest in Abby grows, he opens his heart to the possibility of Christmas miracles.

Each Christmas I endulge in a couple of sappy Christmas romance novels.  This one plublished by Shadow Mountain and was pretty typical of their offereings: Sweet, short, clean. I liked that Carter isn't some amazing, buff, rich, superstar.  He is just a slightly geeky guy who is willing to make an effort to impress a girl.  (2018, 240p.)

Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan

 Ana Dakkar and her brother Dev are both students at an elite private school that focuses on marine science. Ana is nervous about her freshman trials that are coming up, a weekend of hands-on tests aboard a school owned ship.  As she and her fellow freshmen are on a bus  ride to meet up with the ship, their seaside school is attacked.  The teacher/advisor with them on the bus hurries them onto the ship anyway, and informs them that the attack was perpetrated by a rival aquatics school. Ana, realing from fear that her brother, her last surviving relative, perished in the attack, finds out that she is a direct descendant of the real Captain Nemo from the book, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.  She and her classmates also discover that the Nautilus and all the amazing technology from that story is real, and evil people are after it.

I was excited to see that Mr. Riordan had started a new series, and one not connected to his earlier series.  Although I don't think this new series will make the kind of "splash" Percy Jackson did, it was a solid offering and one that Riordan fans will enjoy.  The story similar to Riordan's other books.  A kid finds out that they have inherited something special from unknown ancestors and is thrust into a situation where they need to save the world.  But in this book, the powers are based on science rather than magic.  The one thing that I think will hamper the book's popularity is that I don't think many kids have read 20,000 Leagues under the Sea or have even seen the old Disney version of it.  What works are Riordan's characters, each flawed, but each one discovering the best inside of themselves.  

One fun note, Ana's side kick, Gem, is a Mormon from Provo.  He scolds people for taking God's name in vein and talks about his missionary brother.  I like to feel that the inclusion of this character in the book was infomed by his visit to Provo Library back in 2012.  I had the opportunity to meet him then and chat over dinner with my fellow librarians.  I am sure someone must have talked about their missionary son, and maybe scolded someone about swearing?  (2021, 352 p.)

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

 WWII is winding down and the German army is fleeing East Prussia.  Four young adults are heading for the coast, hoping for passage out of the country.  They each have their own past, and their own secrets.  As they endure harrowing trials, they pull together, and unite with other travelers to form kind of family.  Then they board the ill fated ship, the Wilhelm Gustoff.  

This is a a riviting WWII drama unlike any other I have read.  The setting and historical backdrop are unusual.  I actually hadn't heard of the Wilhelm Gustoff tragedy before.  Nor was I very familiar with the German experience in Russia. The thing that makes the book so engaging, though, are characterizations. Each of the point of view characters, (including a forth, a German soldier, Albert) are brilliantly drawn and multilayered.  It is a teen book, so, of course, there is a romance involved, but the book isn't about the romance, it is just about what war does to people and how people get through it.  Here is another book I will be recommending a lot to teens and adults. (2016, 391 p)

Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia

 Paola's mother believes in the old Mexican mystical folklore, which is an unending source of embarrassment.  Paola tries to keep a lid on her frustration with her mother because she understands how hard it has been on her mother since her father disappeared.  But that does not keep Paola from defying her mother's injunction not to go near the Gila river because it is source of "evil magic".  Then one day Paola's friend, Emma, disappears by the river, and Paola and her best friend, Dante goes to look for her.  Strange things start to happen and Paola realizes there is more to her mother's superstitions than she suspected. 

This is another in the "Rick Riordan Presents" imprint, this one focusing on the legend of La Llorona. I have enjoyed the books about Aru Shah and Tristan Strong that are also "Rick Riordan Presents" books, but I didn't like this one as well as those others.  There were a couple of things that didn't work as well for me.  I didn't like that Pao and Dante were sometimes pretty mean to each other.  I know their squabbles were supposted to be caused by adolescent hormons, but it didn't work for me. I also didn't feel like the story gave me any new insights into Mexican culture. I thought they took the Llorona legend and stretched it all out of proportion.  I did like the little cupacabra puppy though.  Maybe if I were more familiar with the mythology I would have enjoyed it more.   (2020, 350 p)

Winning the Gentleman by Kristi Ann Hunter

 Aaron is an illegitimate son who has made a life for himself as a horse trainer and stable manager.  He has always vowed he would never inflict the liabilities of his birth on any woman by marriage. Then one day, Sophia tricks her way into his life.  She is an amazing horsewoman, and someone in need of his help and protection.  They both have walls and secrets, but with the gentle nudging of friends those walls have at least the possibility of coming down.

Yeah, Christian historical romance time again.  In this one we get to meet many of our old friends from previous Hunter novels.  In some ways this book is as much about having a supportive community of like-minded friends as it is about the two love birds. It takes a lot of encouragement and conniving of their friends to get Sophia and Aaron together at last. One thing I like about Hunter's stories is that she doesn't rush the relationships.  No Cinderella-like "love at first sight" here.  It takes time and much overcoming of bumps in the road to bring Hunter's leading men and women together, which is much more realistic than the fairytale version. (2021, 352 p.)